Seletusjõudu

Seletusjõudu is a term that emerged in mid‑20th century Estonian philosophy to denote the capacity of an argument or explanation to exert persuasive force. The word combines the Estonian root *seletus*, meaning explanation, with *jõud*, meaning force or power. Its earliest usage appeared in the writings of theoretical linguist and philosopher, Ernst Dann, in an essay published in 1953. Dann coined the term to capture the active force that a clear and logically sound explanation carries when it is presented to a rational audience.

In subsequent decades, *seletusjõudu* was incorporated into debates about the methodology of science and the role of narrative in scientific discourse. Estonian scholars used it to contrast the purely descriptive aspects of an observation with the explanatory strength that turns a description into a theory. The concept also found resonance in pedagogical discussions, where teachers emphasized the need for high *seletusjõudu* in lesson plans to ensure that students grasp the underlying mechanisms behind observable facts.

While the term remained largely confined to Estonian philosophical circles, translations of Dann’s work brought it briefly into broader discussions of explanatory power in the philosophy of science. The term is sometimes compared to the English notion of “explanatory power,” though *seletusjõudu* carries a cultural emphasis on clarity and persuasiveness that is unique to Estonian academic discourse.